Pubdate: Thu, 7 Aug 2008
Source: Huffington Post (US Web)
Copyright: 2008 HuffingtonPost com, Inc.
Website: http://www.huffingtonpost.com
Author: Anthony Papa
Note: Anthony Papa is a communications specialist for Drug Policy Alliance
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Mayor+Cheye+Calvo
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?246 (Policing - United States)

MAYOR'S DOGS GUNNED DOWN BY COPS IN IMPROPER DRUG RAID

Dog lovers of the world unite. Our federal government's 
zero-tolerance anti-drug crusade reached a new low in Prince George's 
County, Maryland, when police killed two innocent pet Labrador 
retrievers while improperly conducting a SWAT-style drug raid on the 
mayor's house.

On July 29, police burst into the home of Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye 
Calvo and immediately shot to death his two Labrador retrievers. They 
were there to conduct a search for drugs. The raid was conducted by 
county police narcotics officers and a sheriff's office SWAT Team.

The incident occurred after Calvo carried in a package that was 
addressed to his wife. The mayor's mother-in-law had told the 
deliverymen, who were actually undercover police officers, to leave 
the package outside of his house. When Calvo arrived home that night, 
he brought the package inside. That's when the police broke down the 
door and immediately opened fire on the mayor's two dogs as they ran 
away from the narco-cops.

Police began tracking the package at a Midwest post office where drug 
sniffing dogs had discovered that the package contained 32 pounds of 
marijuana. Calvo said he had no idea how the package arrived at his 
home and that the sheriff's deputies entered without knocking. Then 
they immediately executed Payton, his 7-year old dog first, followed 
by Chase, a 4-year-old Lab, as he ran to another room.

Upon further investigation, it was found that the police did not even 
bother to secure a needed no-knock search warrant. Timothy Maloney, 
the mayor's attorney described the incident as a lawless act by law 
enforcement.

Calvo has not been charged, though police said he, his wife and his 
mother-in-law are all "persons of interest" in an ongoing 
investigation. The mayor said, "These were two beautiful black 
Labradors who were well-known in the community. We walked them twice 
a day; little kids knew their names and would come up to them and pet 
them," he said.

What makes this case unique is that this raid happened to a well 
known elected official. What is not unique is that these gestapo-like 
tactics happen every day in communities across America.

The drug war is an endless crusade by our government to promulgate 
its senseless zero-tolerance drug policies by any means necessary. 
This war on drugs has created convenient vehicles for appearing 
"tough on crime" behind a shield of public safety. But that shield 
gets worn down when our basic rights are curtailed through its use. 
We need to promote policy alternatives to the drug war that are 
grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights. In doing so 
we can reduce the harms of both drug misuse and drug prohibition, and 
seek solutions that promote safety while upholding the sovereignty of 
individuals over their own minds and bodies.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake